Provincial Blog

Welcome to the Provincial Blog.

Here, we feature posts by our Friars and by other contributors from the Carmelite family. Our goal is to provide you with content relevant to Carmelite spirituality and life in the Province of St. Therese.To learn more about the people behind this blog, visit the About Blog Central page.To post a comment, just click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post or you can send us an email to let us know what you think.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Image by PublicDomainPictures from PixabayReadings:1st Reading: Acts 15: 1­2, 22­29Resp. Psalm Psalm 67: 2­3, 5, 6, 82nd Reading: Revelation 21:10­14, 22­23Gospel: John 14:23­29In the first reading, it was said to the Gentiles converting to Christianity that circumcision was no longer necessary, however being told that it was necessary by those from Judea.

Palm Sunday

Pietro lorenzetti [Public domain]Readings: At The Procession with Palms: Gospel: Luke 19:28-40 At Mass: 1st Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7 Resp. Psalm Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-242nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: Luke 22:14-23:56Too many times we are tempted to listen to what the world says which is not good because the world is under the dominion of Satan. The world cheered

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Isaak Asknaziy [Public domain]Readings: 1st Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21Resp.: Psalm 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 62nd Reading: Philippians 3:8-14Gospel: John 8:1-11Moses prescribed stoning for those caught in adultery. Jesus did not change the law but gave a new perspective. Jesus does not declare the guilty guiltless nor does he deny that adultery is a sin. God does not look for opportunities to "catch" us

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Readings: 1st Reading: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12 Resp.: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 St Paul says that anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. This is certainly true of the prodigal son. As his father said, his son was dead but now he has been restored. While God does not want us to stray away from Him, in letting us stray,

Third Sunday of Lent

Readings: 1st Reading: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15Resp.: Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 112nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 In the first reading God tells Moses that He will soon deliver His people. In the Gospel He warns the people that they must be careful because judgement is just around the corner. He warns that since they are in sin, things like what happened to the people

First Sunday of Lent

Readings: 1st Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10Resp.: Psalm 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-152nd Reading: Romans 10:8-13 Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 Today's Gospel tells us that the three enemies that we have are the flesh, the world and the devil. When the devil tried to tempt Jesus, Jesus would counter that attack with the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us that when we are tempted, God provides

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: 1st Reading: Sirach 27:4-7 Resp.: Psalm 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-162nd Reading: 1st Corinthians 15:54-58Gospel: Luke 6:39-45 In last week's Gospel, the Lord told us not to judge and condemn as if we know everything like He does but in today's Gospel He does give us hints to help us discern.Good trees don't bear rotten fruit; figs are not picked from thorn-bushes; and grapes are not

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Resp.: Psalm 1:1-2, 3,4, 6 (40:5a) 2nd Reading: 1st Corinthians 15:12, 16-20 Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26 Jesus tells us in today's Gospel that there are benefits to doing His Father's Will and of course there are detrimental effects if we choose to go against Him. The Beatitudes represented in Luke differ from those listed in Matthew

First Sunday of Advent

Readings:1st Reading: Jeremiah 33:14-16Resp.: Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (1b)2nd Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2Gospel: Luke 21:25-28, 34-36The Advent season has two parts. From the beginning of Advent until December 16, we are concerned with the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world—the final or general judgement. During the second half we are reminded

Solemnity of Christ the King

Readings:1st Reading: Daniel 7:13­14Resp.: Psalm 93:1, 1­2, 5 (1a)2nd Reading: Revelation 1:5­8Gospel: John 18:33b­37 The inscription on the top of the Cross on Calvary said Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum ­ Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. It was written in the three known world languages of the time. There was no mistaking this. The Pharisees complained but Pilate stood

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:1st Reading: Numbers 11:25-29Resp.: Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)2nd Reading: James 5:1-6Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 This Sunday's readings remind us that we live for the next world, not for this one. What does it matter if we don't have things in our lives the way we would prefer? If we suffer these losses for the sake of God's Kingdom, that is,

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:1st Reading: Isaiah 35:4­7a Resp.: Psalm 146:7, 8­9, 9­10(1b) 2nd Reading: James 2:1­5 Gospel: Mark 7:31­37During baptismal ceremonies the minister says to the one being baptized ephphatha or be opened. God wills that the ears of the person be opened to hear the word of God, the Scriptures. Being open to the Scriptures is a result of

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:1st Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6Resp.: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 (9a)2nd Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20Gospel: John 6:51-58 If we want have wisdom, to know what is right, why it is right and the fortitude we need to act accordingly, we need Jesus, His flesh and blood in us.During the summer we hear from the Gospel of John about the Eucharist. At Mass we receive Jesus, His body and blood, soul and

Second Sunday of Advent 'A' Homily – Part 1

Bernard of Clairvaux Introduction: How Time flies! Here we are already at the Second Sunday of Advent! And "the world as we know it is passing away" faster than we would like, with ourselves moving right along with it! We move with this Sunday of Advent deeper into the Final Age of the World that announces the absolute End Time, when the Kingdom of God will be definitely

General Chapter - Sunday, May 17

Today most of the Chapter friars made another Sunday excursion, spending the day first in Medina del Campo, then moving on from there to Segovia--where St. John of the Cross is buried, as you know. But, and here's the rub, I wasn't among them. I simply needed some downtime by myself. So, I spent